Steam app 221380 is the 2013 HD Edition of Age of Empires II, renamed Age of Empires II (2013) in August 2019 and Age of Empires II (Retired) in January 2024. It has received no updates since Definitive Edition shipped on 14 November 2019, and the store page states plainly that it will not be updated further. If you are buying Age of Empires II today, buy the Definitive Edition: this page is for people who already own HD and want to know whether it still runs.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Arabia
Key resources: Fast games and the clearest test of build order timing Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Throwing Axeman upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Black Forest
Key resources: Long booms, siege heavy endgames, safe teching Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Throwing Axeman upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Gold Rush
Key resources: Concentrated central gold and constant midgame skirmishing Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Throwing Axeman upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Migration
Key resources: A safe early boom plus naval control of the crossing Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Longbowman max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Fortress
Key resources: A guaranteed safe start and clean Castle Age power spikes Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Longbowman max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Arabia to Black Forest)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Throwing Axeman once accessible
Mid Game (Gold Rush)
- Push Throwing Axeman to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Longbowman
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Migration to Fortress)
- Max out Longbowman. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Gold Rush farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Check whether you already own HD before spending anything. Definitive Edition sits at app 813780, is still patched, and goes on sale regularly, while the $19.99 HD listing buys a build that stopped receiving updates in 2019.
- Farm Gold Rush during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Age of Empires II (Retired) Guides
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Age of Empires II (Retired) Overview
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Best Builds
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Tier List
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Walkthrough
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Beginner's Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Tips & Tricks
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Weapons Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Combat Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Boss Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Maps & Locations
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Age of Empires II (Retired), check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Crafting Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
